Art sculpture

ABSTRACT

An art sculpture is adapted to be assembled from a plurality of components. The art sculpture includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts adapted to be mounted on a base member by a plurality of mounting pegs of diverse lengths which are secured to the base member and the shaped cutouts. The base member may include a schematic representation of the geometrically-shaped cutouts and a schematic representation of mounting peg locations in order to facilitate in the assembly of the art sculpture.

United States Patent 1 Powell 1 July 23, 1974 ART SCULPTURE [76] Inventor: Charles W. Powell, 227 E. 50th St.,

New York, NY. 10022 22 Filed: June 9,1972

21 Appl. No.: 261,387

[52] US. Cl 35/26, 35/73, 46/26, 161/18 [51] Int. Cl. (10% 1/06 [58] Field of Search 35/26, 73, 7 A, 29 R; 46/26, 31; 161/18, 22, 24; 40/142 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,535,035 4/1925 Phillip 46/24 UX 1,620,574 3/1927 2,267,672 12/1941 2,643,466 6/1953 3,080,664 3/1963 3,670,435 6/1972 1119,238 7/1934 Burke 35/27 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,288,048 2/1962 France 35/7 A 393,901 11/1965 Switzerland 40/142 A OTHER PUBLICATIONS Arrow Handicraft Corp., 1970 catalog recd. March 1970, Wooden Vignette Wall Plaque Kits" on inside rear cover.

Primary Examiner-Harland S. Skogquist Attorney, Agent, or FirmAmster & Rothstein [5 7] ABSTRACT An art sculpture is adapted to be assembled from a plurality of components. The art sculpture includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts adapted to be mounted on a base member by a plurality of V mounting pegs of diverse lengths which are secured to the base member and the shaped cutouts. The base member may include a schematic representation of the geometrically-shaped cutouts and a schematic representation of mounting peg locations in order to facilitate in the assembly of the art sculpture.

2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 ART SCULPTURE This invention relates generally to art forms and, more particularly, to an art sculpture.

With the increase of leisure time, there exists a need in the art to provide an art form which is both pleasing in appearance and which'provides enjoyment in the assembly thereof. Although various art forms are on the market which attempt to provide such a structure; these art forms have been less than satisfactory either in their appearance or in the difficulty (or lack thereof) in assembling the same. Further, conventional art forms have been difficult to manufacture on a mass production basis from a standpoint of cost and/or from a standpoint of ease of fabrication.

Accordingly, it is a broad object of the present invention to provide an art sculpture which may be purchased in a disassembled configuration and assembled thereafter.

Another object of this invention is to provide an art sculpture which is pleasing-in appearance.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an art sculpture which provides increased emjoyment in the assembly thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an art sculpture which may be manufactured relatively easily and with reduced cost.

For accomplishing these and other objects in accordance with the present invention, an art sculpture is adapted to be assembled from a plurality of components and includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts adapted to be mounted and secured to a base member. The geometrically-shaped cutouts are mounted and secured to the base member by mounting means, which may take the form of mounting pegs of diverse lengths, which enable the geometrically-shaped cutouts to be mounted on the base member at various planes remote from the plane of the base member. In order to facilitate in the assembly of the art sculpture, the base member may include a schematic representation of the geometrically-shaped cutouts and a schematic representation defining peg-mounting locations.

The above brief description as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspectiveview of an art sculpture according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the art sculpture of FIG. 1, but with the art sculpture in an assembled configuration;

FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, enlarged in size, of an alternative embodiment of the present invention which utilizes mounting pegs insertable into the base member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a partial, sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the mounting pegs are integral with the base member;

FIG. 7 is a front, elevation view of an art sculpture according to another embodiment of the present invention; and,

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, sectional view, taken substantially along the line 88 of FIG. 7, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, an art sculpture according to the present invention is advantageously formed of a molded plastic material and is generally designated 10. Art sculpture 10 is adapted to be assembled from a plurality of components including geometrically-shaped cutouts 12, 14 and 16. By way of example, geometrically-shaped cutout 12 is generally sector-like in configuration; geometrically-shaped cutout 14 is generally rectangular in configuration; and, geometricallyshaped cutout 16 is generally circular in configuration. Further, the geometrically-shaped cutouts may be of diverse thicknesses, for example, geometrically-shaped cutout 14 is somewhat thicker than geometricallyshaped cutout 12. The geometrically-shaped cutouts are adapted to be mounted on a base member 18 which may be generally disk-like and circular in configuration.

The geometrically-shaped cutouts are mounted and secured to. base member 18 by mounting means, such as mounting pegs 20, 22 and 24. Specifically, mounting peg 20 is adapted to be secured, at one end thereof, to base member 18 and at the other end thereof to geometrically-shaped cutout 12. In a similar manner, mounting pegs 22 and 24 are adapted to be secured, at one end thereof, to base member 18 and at the other ends thereof to geometrically-shaped cutouts l4 and 16, respectively. Advantageously, the various mounting pegs are of diverse lengths; with mounting pegs 22 being the longest in length, mounting pegs 24 being somewhat shorter in length and mounting pegs 20 being still shorter in length. This provides an art sculpture in which the shaped cutouts are in diverse (albeit parallel) planes relative to the base member. Thus, when art sculpture 10 is assembled, shaped cutouts 12 will lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of base member 18 at a distance closest to base member 18. In a similar manner, the shaped cutouts 14 will be equidistant from the plane of base member 18 but will be the farthest of the geometrically-shaped cutouts from the base member while the geometrically-shaped cutouts 16 will all be equidistant from the plane of base member 18 but will be intermediate in distance (compared to geometrically-shaped cutouts 12 and 14) from the plane of the base member.

In order to facilitate in the assembly of art sculpture 10, base member 18 may include a schematic representation 26 which corresponds to the geometricallyshaped cutouts and the locations of the mounting pegs. Thus, schematic representation 26 includes a schematic illustration 28, corresponding to geometricallyshaped cutouts 12 and a schematic illustration 30, corresponding to mounting pegs 20, which are utilized to facilitate in the assembly of the art structure. In a similar manner, schematic illustrations 32 and 34 corresponding, respectively, to geometrically-shaped cutouts 14 and mounting pegs 22 and schematic illustrations 34 and 36 corresponding, respectively, to geomet rically-shaped cutouts 16 and mounting pegs 24 are also included as part of schematic representation 26. Schematic representation 26, which may take the form of a separate sheet which may be pasted or otherwise secured to base member 18 or which may take the form of an etching into the base member, is therefore useful in defining the appropriate locations of the mounting pegs and the orientation of the geometrically-shaped cutouts relative to the base member. It should be noted that if the base member is of a transparent material, such as clear Lucite, it may be advantageous to attach the schematic representation to base member 18 on the otherside of the base member with the schematic representation visable through the material. This allows the shaped cutouts to be secured to the base member in a proper fashion and allows the schematic representation to be removed from the other side of the base member after assembly. Once the cutouts are in place, the cutouts on the other side of the base member may be mounted using the already mounted cutouts (and mounting pegs) as the guide.

Referring to FIG. 3, the geometrically-shaped cutouts 12, 14 and 16 are secured to their respective mounting pegs 20, 22 and 24 by a fastening material 40, which may take the form of an'adhesive, glue, or the like, which also is utilized to secure the mounting pegs to base member 18. It will also be appreciated that the geometrically-shaped cutouts may be mounted, by their respective mounting pegs, on each side of base member 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In order to improve the symmetry of the assembled art sculpture the art sculpture may be assembled with the geometricallyshaped cutouts to one side'of the base member being the mirror image of the'geometrically-shaped cutouts to the other side of the base member.

As shown specifically in FIG. 1, the art sculpture may include a stand, generally designated 42, having a base or pedestal 42a and an elongate supporting member 42b connected, at one end thereof, to pedestal 42a and, at the other end thereof, to base member 18. Stand 42 is used to support the art sculpture 10 for display or the like.

In order to provide a more complete description of the embodiment of art sculpture 10 as shown in FIGS. 13, a typical assembly sequence will now be described.

Art sculpture 10 is advantageously purchased in a disassembled configuration and assembled from the plurality of components including 'base member 18, mounting pegs 20, 22 and 24, geometrically-shaped cutouts 12, 14 and 16 and base 42.

As the first step in the assembly sequence, the mounting pegs 20, 22 and 24 are secured to their respective geometrically-shaped cutouts l2, l4 and 16 by fastening material 40. By way of example, the fastening material 40 may take the form of a glue or cement material dispensed from a separate container or, in the alternative, the mounting pegs and/or the geometricallyshaped cutouts may be pre-glued such that moistening of one of the elements serves to secure the mounting pegs to the geometrically-shaped cutouts. In order to facilitate in securing the mounting pegs to the geometricalIy-shaped cutouts, the geometrically-shaped cutouts may have etched on the underside thereof, mounting peg locations (not shown).

After the geometrically-shaped cutouts have been secured to one end of the mounting pegs, the other end of the mounting pegs are secured to base nember 18. Again, this may be accomplished by using fastening material 40 which may be dispensed from a separate container or may be pre-applied to the mounting pegs or base member at the factory. In any case, the schematic representation 26, which is included as part of the base member, facilitates in the assembly of the art sculpture by enabling the purchaser of the art sculpture to quickly determine the location of the mounting pegs and the orientation of the geometrically-shaped cutouts, relative to the base member.

After the geometrically-shaped cutouts have been mounted on one side of base member 18, the sequence is repeated on the other side of the base member with the geometrically-shaped cutouts being secured to their respective mounting pegs and with the mounting pegs being secured to the base member. Advantageously, the geometrically-shaped cutouts to each side of the base member should form a mirror image although, it will be appreciated, that this need not be the case and that a different orientation may be provided at the discretion of the purchaser who assembles the art sculpture. A separate schematic representation may be included to assist the purchaser in the assembly of the sculpture. However, for the case where the base member is formed of a clear plastic or similar material, the assembly on this side of the base member may be facilitated by the already oriented and assembled shaped cutouts and mounting pegs to the other side of the base member.

After the geometrically-shaped cutouts have been secured to the base member, the base member is fastened to stand 42 and, as a result thereof, art sculpture 10 may be conveniently displayed on an appropriate surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, it will beappreciated to fit into a corresponding opening 460 in base member 46. Mounting peg 48 is therefore locked in place and secured to base member 46 by the friction fit between projection 48a and the peg-receiving opening 46a of base member 46. Additionally, referring to FIG. 6, it will be appreciated that the mounting means for mounting the geometrically-shaped cutouts to the base member may be integrally formed as part of the base member. More particularly, FIG. 6 shows geometrically-shapecl cutouts 50 which are secured to a base member 52 by mounting means, similar to mounting pegs, but which take the form of upwardly-extending projections 52a which are integral with base member 52. Thus, all that is required in order to secure the geometrically-shaped cutouts to the base member is to utilize a fastening material 40 in order to secure the geometrically-shaped cutouts to projections 52a. In the alternative, it will be appreciated that the projections may be integral with the geometrically-shaped cutouts in which case all that is required for assembling the art sculpture is for the projections to be secured to the base member.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, an art sculpture, generally designated 10' according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention, is shown as including a base member 18' on which is mounted a plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts l2, l4 and 16'. The geometrically-shaped cutouts are mounted on base member 18 by a plurality of mounting means, such as mounting pegs 20', 22 and 24 which may be of diverse lengths. Thus, mounting pegs 20 are utilized to secure, by way of a fastening material 40', geometrically-shaped cutouts 12' to base member 18 and, since mounting pegs 20' are all of the same length and are the shortest of the mounting pegs, the geometricallyshaped cutouts 12' will all lie in a common plane, parallel to the plane of base member 18 and closest to the base member. ln a similar manner, geometricallyshaped cutouts 14' are secured to base member 18' by mounting pegs 22' which are glued or otherwise secured to the base member and to the geometricallyshaped cutouts.

The geometrically-shaped cutouts need not be directly fastened to base member 18'. Thus, geometrically-shaped cutouts 16 may, via fastening material 40', be connected either directly or indirectly to other geometrically-shaped cutouts; for example, directly to geometrically-shaped cutouts 12' or, by way of additional mounting pegs, such as mounting peg 24', to geometrically-shaped cutout 14'. This enables the art sculpture to provide a varied three dimensional presentation.

In order to display the art sculpture, a frame, generally designated 54 is provided. Frame 54 includes a back surface 54a to which is secured mounting base 18' and an upstanding frame member 54b. This allows art sculpture 10, once assembled, to be displayed or hung on a wall or other appropriate surface.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the art sculpture according to the present invention provides an improved art form which may be quickly and relatively easily assembled by a purchaser. The assembled art sculpture is pleasing in appearance and provides a multi-level, three dimensional effect. This effect may be increased by utilizing, as the mounting means, clear Lucite mounting pegs and by forming the geometricallyshaped cutouts of various colors, also of Lucite. Such materials are well known in the art and also enable the art sculpture to be fabricated relatively inexpensively and relatively easily.

Obviously, many modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, the assembled art sculpture need not be mounted by way of a mounting stand 42 or a frame 54. Rather, the assembled art sculpture may be hung by a wire, or the like. Similarly, the sequence in assembling the art sculpture may be varied, for example, the mounting pegs may first be secured to the base member and, afterwards, may be secured to the shaped cutouts. It is to be understood, therefore, that the embodiments described are merely an example of the application of the principles of the invention. Additional embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An art sculpture adapted to be assembled from a plurality of components comprising a transparent base member, a plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts adapted to be mounted on both sides of said base memher in a plane removed from the plane of said base member, means for mounting and securing said plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts to said base member being of diverse lengths thereby enabling said geometrically-shaped cutouts to define a plurality of planes parallel to each other and removed from the plane of said base member, additional geometricallyshaped cutouts adapted to be secured to said plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts by either directly mounting and securing said additional geometricallyshaped cutouts to said plurality of geometricallyshaped cutouts or by providing additional mounting means for mounting and securing said additional geometrically-shaped cutouts, said geometricallyshaped cutouts mounted on one side of said base member being the mirror image of the geometrically-shaped cutouts mounted on the other side of said base member, said base member including a schematic representation of said plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts spaced about said base member for facilitating in the assembly of said art sculpture, said base member including a schematic representation defining the location of said mounting means spaced about said base member for facilitating in the assembly of said art sculpture, and mounting means for displaying said art sculpture.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means is a display stand. l= 

1. An art sculpture adapted to be assembled from a plurality of components comprising a transparent base member, a plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts adapted to be mounted on both sides of said base member in a plane removed from the plane of said base member, means for mounting and securing said plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts to said base member being of diverse lengths thereby enabling said geometrically-shaped cutouts to define a plurality of planes parallel to each other and removed from the plane of said base member, additional geometricallyshaped cutouts adapted to be secured to said plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts by either directly mounting and securing said additional geometrically-shaped cutouts to said plurality of geometrically-shaped cutouts or by providing additional mounting means for mounting and securing said additional geometrically-shaped cutouts, said geometricallyshaped cutouts mounted on one side of said base member being the mirror image of the geometrically-shaped cutouts mounted on the other side of said base member, said base member including a schematic representation of said plurality of geometricallyshaped cutouts spaced about said base member for facilitating in the assembly of said art sculpture, said base member including a schematic representation defining the location of said mounting means spaced about said base member for facilitating in the assembly of said art sculpture, and mounting means for displaying said art sculpture.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means is a display stand. 